Rankin sheriff: 2 men try to sneak drugs, cellphones into prison

Rankin-Hinds chase leads to prison-smuggling attempt arrests

UPDATED 12:54 PM CDT May 30, 2013

PEARL, Miss. -

Two men are accused of trying to sneak drugs, cellphones, liquor and other items into a Rankin County prison.

According to the Rankin County Sheriff's Department, a silver Kia sped through a security checkpoint at the intersection of Cedar Ridge Boulevard and Highway 468 near the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility Tuesday night.

As deputies chased the car, a black bag was thrown from it, investigators said.

Several agencies, including the Pearl Police Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol and Hinds County Sheriff's Department, assisted in the chase that entered into Jackson.

Authorities said they followed the Kia onto Interstate 20, then onto Interstate 55 South at McDowell Road. The car came to a stop on nearby Santa Clair Street in Jackson, where three men got out of the vehicle and ran off, investigators said.

About two hours later, authorities said they arrested 23-year-old Franklin Thompson on Spillway Road in Rankin County, and a few hours later, officers arrested 40-year-old Aaron Cannon at his home in Brandon.

Both men are charged with felony fleeing, conspiracy to introduce contraband to a correctional facility and conspiracy to introduce narcotics to a correctional facility, authorities said.

The black bag that was thrown from the car contained: 1.3 pounds of marijuana, 21 cellphones, a bottle of alcohol, nearly 100 packages of rolling papers, six pounds of smoking tobacco, lighters, knives, numerous cellphone chargers and other contraband.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said investigators believe the men planned to park in the back of the prison and throw the bag over the fence. He believes the men may have done it before.

There was no word as to what happened to the third man who was in the car, but the sheriff's department said additional arrests and charges are anticipated.

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department and Mississippi Department of Corrections are investigating.

2 men accused of smuggling contraband into jail

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Two men are accused of trying to bring these items, including drugs, cell phones and alcohol.